I go to the dollar store and buy the cutting mats that they sell. They are about the weight of a file folder, but plastic. Cut out easily, and hold up nicely.

I made up a tutorial on templates in it there is a picture of the plastic I use. It is plastic notebook dividers that you can get for about 3.50 or less for an 8 pack

Here is the link
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-57961-1.htm
hope that helps

You are a sweetheart....this is just what I was looking for. I needed something I could see through and that would hold up for a bit. Bless you.

DITTO

:thumbup:

being of the same mind as you I quite often make mine from cardboard unless I am going to use it a zillion times - but to be honest I thoroughly enjoy the process of cutting shapes out of cardboard - how sad is that ha ha!!

Oh, that is funny...just realized that in myself. I think that is why I loved teaching kindergarten and first grade...my second gs and I spend hours with playdough...[quote=janedee][quote=fmd36

being of the same mind as you I quite often make mine from cardboard unless I am going to use it a zillion times - but to be honest I thoroughly enjoy the process of cutting shapes out of cardboard - how sad is that ha ha!![/quote]

Hubby makes mine from plexi glass. Uses a scrol saw. Then I use an emery board to soften the edges. Think enough so roller dosen't jump over the edge. I have tons of them and love it!

But how do you get the homemade templates a true square?
I have wasted lots of plexi glass and other stuff. I keep throwing them away because they are not square. The scrol saw might be the answer? The 'things around the house' sound like a really good idea. So far I am not learning how to do curves, circles and all those fancy things. Great post!

I'm going to give this a shot with the Happy Daisys pattern. I wouldn't think the templates need to be clear so I've been saving the tops to coffee cans and a couple square gallon ice cream containers. This will work, right?

I forgot old "come in the mail" AOL and other sample CDs
we used to get so many of, true circles and have a smaller circle inside. In my stash is also half of a plastic egg, from when panty hose came in plastic eggs, and like someone else said, old and new cookie cutters for applique patterns, they last forever.

And if you can get the Plexiglass square, you can use a non permanent marker to mark around the pattern you want to "fussy cut" lots of duplicates for that pattern. Just find the match, hold the square over it and cut around it. Or mark around it for scissor cutting.